Organic Farming in India: Principles, Practices, Challenges & Initiatives

Explore organic farming in India—its principles, differences from natural farming, key states, export data, and government initiatives like NPOP & PKVY. Learn how organic agriculture supports sustainability and chemical-free food production.

Get an Instant Call Back from Our Expert Mentors Now!

+91

Organic farming, sustainable agricultural system that uses ecologically based pest controls and biological fertilizers derived largely from animal and plant wastes and nitrogen-fixing cover crops.

Organic Farming in India: key facts

India’s rank in terms of number of organic farmers- 1st (home to 30% of total organic producers in the world); in terms of world’s organic agriculture land globally - 5th.
Area under Cultivation: only 2% of net sown area.
Top 3 states - MP, Maharashtra & Gujarat account for largest area organic certification; in terms of production - MP, Maharashtra & Rajasthan.
India’s exports of organic products- USD 1.04 billion during 2020-21.
Sikkim became the first State in the world to become fully organic and other States including Tripura and Uttarakhand have set similar targets.

Principles of Organic Farming

Similarities between Organic Farming and Natural Farming

Both focuses on using natural inputs and processes to improve soil health, reduce environmental impact, and produce healthy crops.
Both avoid the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and promote biodiversity by using native crops and crop rotation.
Both practices prioritize animal welfare and aim to produce food that is free from harmful chemicals.

Difference between Organic Farming and Natural Farming

Organic farming	Natural farming
Organic fertilizers and manures, such as compost, vermicompost, and cow dung manure, are utilized and applied to farmlands in organic farming.	Natural farming does not use chemical or organic fertilizers on the soil. In reality, no additional nutrients are put into the soil or given to the plants
Basic agro practices like ploughing, tilling, weeding is performed	No ploughing, tilling and weeding No pesticides, No herbicides, No pruning
Organic farming is still costlier due to the necessity of bulk manures, and it has an ecological footprint on the surrounding.	Natural agriculture is an extremely low-cost farming method that completely Molds with local wildlife.

Challenges of Organic Farming

Initiatives for the promotion of Organic Farming in India

National Programme for Organic Production: APEDA, Ministry of Commerce & Industries, Government of India is implementing the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).
Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS), as defined by IFOAM, are "locally focused quality assurance systems.
They certify producers based on active participation of stakeholders and are built on a foundation of trust, social networks and knowledge exchange."
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana:
The scheme stresses on end-to-end support to organic
Post-harvest management support including processing, packing, marketing is made an integral part of these schemes to encourage organic farmers.
Under PMKVY, farmers are provided financial assistance of Rs 50,000 per hectare/ 3 years, out of which Rs. 31,000 (62%) is provided directly through DBT for inputs.
Regulations for Organic Food Products, 2017 issued by FSSAI.
Jaivik Bharat/PGS Green logo given by FSSAI to chemical free produce under transition to ‘organic’.
Organic e-commerce platform www.jaivikkheti.in for directly linking farmers with retail & bulk buyers.

Organic Farming in India: Principles, Practices, Challenges & Initiatives FAQs

Organic farming is an agricultural method that uses natural inputs like compost and avoids synthetic chemicals to promote sustainable and eco-friendly crop production.

Organic farming uses organic fertilizers and practices like ploughing, while natural farming avoids all fertilizers, ploughing, and chemical inputs.

Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan are among the top states for organic farming area and production in India.

Schemes like the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) provide financial and technical support to organic farmers.

It is a certification mark by FSSAI given to chemical-free and organic produce under transition to organic farming, ensuring food safety and quality.

UPSC QEP 2026 Batch 5 - English

Buy now View Details

Submit Your Details to Learn More

NEEV GS + CSAT Foundation 2026/27

Buy now View Details

Our Popular Courses

UPSC Prelims Foundation Course (GS + CSAT)

UPSC Mains PYQ Solved

UPSC Mains Answer writing Course

UPSC Mains test Series 2026

Library

UPPSC Prelims Crash Course 2025 - NISCHAY

UPPSC Mains Course 2025

UPPSC Mains Course in Hindi

Best IAS Coaching In Delhi, UPSC Online & Offline Classes by IAShub

Are you dreaming of becoming an IAS officer? Then, IAShub can be your best guide. It is one of the Best IAS Coaching in Delhi. Many students who want to clear the UPSC exam join IAShub for learning. The institute gives both online and offline classes. Their teachers are experienced and helpful. They easily explain every topic. Students also get notes, tests, and tips to do well in the exam.

UPSC Online Classes by IAShub

IAShub is in Delhi and is trusted by many UPSC students. It offers coaching for every part of the UPSC exam – Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The classes are simple and easy to understand. The teachers are experts and guide students in the right way. IAShub is also known for its helpful notes, test series, and answer-writing practice. IAShub is the best coaching in Delhi and also gives UPSC Online Classes. This helps students from any place in India to learn. The online classes are live and also recorded. So, students can watch them anytime. These classes cover the full UPSC syllabus.

Key Offerings Provided by IAShub

Here are some important services provided by IAShub:

UPSC Prelims: IAShub teaches for Prelims with a focus on basics. It also gives daily current affairs and monthly magazines.
Classroom Courses: IAShub has classroom learning for students in Delhi. The environment is good and peaceful for study.
Live Classes: Students who live far can join live UPSC online classes. These classes are just like real classes.
QEP for Mains: The Quality Enrichment Program (QEP) is special for Mains preparation. It helps students write better and faster.
Answer Writing: Regular answer writing practice is given. Teachers also check answers and give tips to improve.
Free Resource: IAShub gives free notes by toppers and helpful Main Booster material.
Test Series: Test series are available for every subject. These help students know their weak points and improve.
Interview Guidance Session: IAShub also gives interview practice sessions with experts. These help students feel confident.

UPSC Exam Overview

The UPSC Civil Services Exam has three parts:

Prelims: It has two papers: General Studies and CSAT.
Mains: It has nine papers, including essays and optional subjects.
Interview: It tests the personality and confidence of the student.

This exam is tough, but with the right guidance, it becomes easy to manage. Students must study smart and stay regular.

How IAShub Helps in the UPSC Journey

IAShub supports students from the beginning to the end. It gives the right books, tests, and notes. The classes are easy to follow, and the teachers are always ready to help. Students get personal doubt sessions too. The test series and answer checking help students learn where they need to do better. Also, free study materials save time and money.
IAShub also guides students during the final stage – the interview. Experts take mock interviews and give useful tips. This full support makes IAShub one of the best IAS coaching in Delhi.

Best IAS Coaching In Delhi FAQs

Yes, IAShub offers live and recorded online classes. Students can attend from any part of India.

Classes are available in both English and Hindi, so students can choose the language they are comfortable with.

The classroom centre is located in Delhi. Students can visit and join offline batches there.

IAShub gives interview guidance sessions to help students prepare for the final round of UPSC.